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I have braced myself for this day for so long

31K views 333 replies 49 participants last post by  cgriffin 
#1 ·
I have braced myself for this day for so long as Tia is now 12.
The vet thinks Tia has cancer:(

She developed a lump on her side (muscle) which has increased significantly over the past month or so. We thought that it was just another fatty tumor. However apparently it is full of blood and it is growing. The vet thinks that it could be hemangiosarcoma.

The thought of her suffering is unbearable. I have no idea what to expect. I am wondering if it is safe to let her jump out of the car?

She has a history of partial seizures, panting and feeling hot to the touch. We are wondering how this all fits together. She does sometimes talk out of the blue. Other than this she is not miserable or lethargic. She loves to go on walks and her sparkly personality still shines through.

Can anyone offer any insight of what we might expect?
What do you wish someone told you when you first found out?

We have just put an order in for some Yunnan Biayoa and tumeric/curcumin.
 
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#169 ·
Thank you :D

I did not want to say too much but *touch wood* I am very pleased to say that Tia has had a pretty good week and has been looking stronger every day. She continues to smile and boss us around. This is a complete surprise to me since 2 bleeds in 4 days indicated that things were going to escalate. I am so grateful that this has not happened yet. I have never been so excited about a dull and uneventful day.

We have kept her very quiet (with brief walks to a nearby park) and we have tried to make her food quite bland due to the diarrhea. I am also convinced that your well wishes and candles have made a huge difference.

Despite having a good week we are still on tender hooks and are watching carefully for any changes and make sure that she is comfortable now that summer has arrived. She did not want to eat her breakfast today which sends me into panic mode once again. I just hope that she can continue to hold on as we are on summer holidays next week when we can spend more quality fun times together.

Thanks again for your very kind thoughts and positive healing energy :D
 
#170 ·
Sending prayers for sweet Tia girl, fight hard and stay strong.
 
#173 ·
Hey, Doug

Glad things are going well at the moment. I wouldn't worry about her appetite too much. Bet if you put some ground turkey in that bowl it would shine from the tongue polishing it would receive after the last morsel is gone. :)
 
#174 ·
You are right - it was a false alarm :) ... I think.
It gives me chills as Tia was off her food before her last two bleeds. It also reminds me of so many others who went off their food in their final week. It is heartbreaking to see a pet hungry and yet be put off food at the first smell:(
Phew! we survived another good day. It really is true that everyday is a gift.

Sending healing and cooling energy to Andy's paw!
 
#176 ·
Remember the power of vitamin B-12 to stimulate appetite. It is usually injected, but there are also chewable forms that work. When Charlie's meds put him off food completely, this is what did the trick and turned him back into my Cookie Monster. Of course, boiled chicken with broth helped, as did anchovies in oil. He would eat scrambled eggs from my fingers when nothing else would go down. Other members swear that green tripe works wonders for dogs whose appetite is not good, though it might not be good for a sensitive tummy.

With you in spirit,
Lucy
 
#187 ·
Sending love and prayers for sweet Tia and her family, hope you have good time only.
 
#190 ·
Thanks so much guys :)

The following message is to provide an update for the amazing and caring people who continue to support us but also for those who will find themselves on this rocky road in the future who crave info and find a spark of comfort in the "Me too" exclamation as I have from other healing blogs.

There have been many ups but also quite a few downs. The good news is that Tia has had no other major bleeds that we are aware of. Whenever I have said my good byes (3 times now) she has miraculously bounced back much stronger the next day.

However, I have been on tender hooks and am a nervous wreck as I can hear the time bomb ticking (...well not quite a nervous wreck but I am on high alert). Having pets that have gone through this cancer journey before has made me sensitive to their last tell tale signs of the end so when I see these in Tia it sends me into a tail spin. I check her breathing, expression, any signs of wobbliness and the colour of her gums religiously. I should probably tone things down a bit but you never know if this is indeed a red flag for concern and prompt action this time. I do not want to repeat my naive mistakes of the past and miss any signals. I do not want to live with regrets.

Tia still has diarrhea and a grumbly tummy. At times she is off her food:( For a week now we have been cooking up chicken and pumpkin feasts (which she goes nuts over) and added probiotics to her diet but to no avail. Having cancer lowers her immunity to stomach bugs. Now she is on antibiotics. Hearing a churning tummy makes my heart sink only to realise that it is coming from my young golden who is more than fine :p Fortunately she cannot resist a good piece of chicken which immediately restores her into a young pup.

The heat continues to be a significant issue. I hate to see her restless and have partial seizures when it starts to heat up. I do back flips to ensure that Tia is comfortable at all times by bathing her and following her with air conditioners and fans. We get up super early in the morning so she can enjoy a short walk without too much stress for her. She has learned to love her canine cooler bed 3 which is awesome:) We have had a short period of cooler weather over the last few days which has been a great relief to all of us.

Leaving the house is also a big issue. I want to be there for her when the bleed does happen. Going to Christmas parties or doing Christmas shopping that I would normally love is not what I want to be doing right now especially when I know that she is heat intolerant. Several people asking about how she is doing and repeating the painful story out loud at parties is also difficult as it makes it more real and then you can see the pity in their well meaning eyes which is another blow.

Tia is also quite vocal. She is a charming talker. For years we have been delighted over this amusing talent. Now I question if it has a different meaning. Cancer has a way of second guessing ourselves. I wish that she could speak English. Is she hungry for a midnight chicken snack because of the seizure drug Pheno? Is she bored and ready to party since we cannot take her for long walks anymore? Is she complaining about waking up hot and having to move to a cooler spot? (After much observation and consideration I do not think that she is in any pain) She is talking right now as hubby has not gone to work yet (He is on summer holidays) which disturbs her precise time keeping routine. She also starts talking an hour before her snack or meal times. In her early days she would talk just to celebrate the fact the we got out of the shower. In the senior thread there is an endearing thread about how seniors become more demanding in their golden age and how they have deserve this right:) This is the time to spoil them. Yes she has us wrapped around her little claw.

The combination of all of these worries is difficult but the bright side is that we do all of these things happily for her. For more than a decade Tia has been by our side cheering us on and celebrating us, making sure that we know that we are loved and are as happy as can be. Ever since she was a pup she would listen out to hear if we ever used our serious voices then she will come over with a bright smile because she knows that our loving happy voices would return whenever she appeared. Tia has been a great healer for us over the years and she continues to be even during this challenge. She keeps her head held high and has an extra sparkle in her eye. We sleep down stairs because to us she is more than just a dog. It is our turn to be there for her.

POEM:
"It' Just a Dog

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and, in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me, and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile....because they "just don't understand."

- Anonymous"

Now Tia is talking because it is my turn to jump in the shower.. I've gotta run! :p
 
#191 ·
Author: Stan Rawlinson
Dog Ten Commandments


1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any
separation from you will be painful remember
that before you get me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me- it is crucial to my well
being.
4. Do not be angry at me for long, and do not lock
me up as punishment.
5. You have your work, your entertainment,and your friends.
I only have you.

6. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understands your words,
I understand your voice when it is speaking to me.
7. Be aware that how ever you treat me, I will never forget.
8. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could
easily hurt you, but I choose not to bite you because I
love you.
9. Before you scold me for being uncooperative,obstinate,or lazy,
ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I
might not be getting the right food, or I have been out to
long, or my heart is getting to old and weak.

10. Take care of me when I get old; you too will grow old. Go
with me on difficult journeys. Never say: "I cannot bear to
watch" or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything
is easier for me if you are there, even my death.
Remember that I love you.
 
#192 ·
You're a very special person :D.

Meggie's Mom posted this last year:
"May I tell you a wonderful truth about your dog? .... You have been given stewardship of what you in your faith might call a holy soul."
 
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